The look of marble, the durability of porcelain

A question we get all the time is whether there is an easy care, durable alternative to marble that has a similar look. Granites, while beautiful in their own right, just don’t have the same appearance. Some engineered quartz products do come close (which we’ll talk about in another post soon). And now, there’s another option on the table – ThinSlab porcelain from Oregon Tile and Marble.

A customer came to us about a year ago just as this product came out. We wanted to test out the product before we committed to working with it – We never like to install a new product in a customer’s home without the knowledge and experience to do the job well. We learned more about the product, and even attended a training session last year, where we learned all about ThinSlab. Then, about 10 months ago, that first customer came back, and we were ready to give the go ahead. You can see pictures of that project in this post. We’ve done projects in kitchens and bathrooms now with ThinSlab porcelain, and it looks great in both! We even did a beautiful fireplace surround.

ThinSlab porcelain is just that, thin! It’s only ¼” thick in fact, yet it’s about as big as a traditional slab (59” x 118”). It’s currently available in three “colors” – Calcutta marble, Tipo Statuario, and Walnut Travertine. Each “color” has various slab patterns which allow for book matching, or simply variety, just like with traditional natural stone. It’s available in two finishes – both polished and honed.

As with any material, ThinSlab has its pros and cons, which we’ve outlined below.

 Pros:

• Non porous material means no need for sealing and resealing
• Lightweight allows for easy installation and easier wall mounting such as for shower walls
• Thinness may allow for installation over preexisting counters – no need to remove your old ones*
• Excellent durability
• Easy care – just clean with mild soap and water and you’re good to go

Cons:

• Only available edge is a mitered, flat polish – this may be just the look you’re going for, or it may not
• Material thickness of only ¼” is visible around the sink hole. See photo. This can be made less apparent by choosing a sink color to match the stone.
• Limited color options – it may be a good option if you want the look of Calcutta, but if you have something else in mind, you’re out of luck

Stop by our showroom or call us at (503) 234-5361 if you want more information or have any questions about a particular project you want to do.

*Depending on existing counters. Contact us for more information.